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swelling after a mastectomy

Hello everyone,

I had a MRM on the right side and simple on the left back on Dec 9th. The drains were removed on Dec 20th. Left side is fine but on the right I have some swelling. I think it may be collection of the fluids that drained through the drain. It doesn't hurt or anything. I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem and if it eventually goes away on it's own or do i need to call my doctor

Swelling after a mastectomy

It's probably a little fluid collection. Your surgeon may have to drain it. I had to have my surgical area drained a couple of times and finally had to have the drain in for another week. Hopefully you won't need that, especially if you catch it early. I didn't feel any discomfort when he drained the site.

Hi Shelly,
I'd go get checked to be sure you don't need to have some fluid drained. If you're talking about down your side of the MRM vs. on the chest area itself, I felt like I was swollen there also. I guess we don't notice it when we have breasts, but there is tissue on the side that was all connected. Mine wasn't fluid, but that tissue that just became obvious to me once the breast was gone. With it being on the MRM side, that very well is what it could be. It will always feel swollen and numby feeling, but it becomes our new "normal" and you don't think about it after awhile.
Take care and keep us posted
Nancy

Well I did talk to my surgeon yesterday and he said a bit of swelling is normal and that some of it may be from the drains but that the body would absorb it. He did tell me if it gets uncomfortable or begins to hurt to call him back.

Boy this board has been quiet the last few days!!! Hope you all are having wonderful holidays!!!